Diascia plant named ‘Codilav’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Diascia  plant named ‘Codilav’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; light purple-colored flowers with red purple-colored centers; and good temperature tolerance.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Diascia×hybrida cultivarCodilav.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Diasciaplant, botanically known as Diascia×hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name Codilav.

The new Diascia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new compact Diascias with numerousflowers and attractive flower coloration.

The new Diascia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventorin the spring of 2000 of the Diascia×hybrida cultivar Codiap, disclosedin U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,169, as the female, or seed parent, with aproprietary Diascia×hybrida selection identified as X99.54.9, notpatented, as the male, or pollen parent. The new Diascia was selected asa single plant from the resulting progeny of the cross-pollination bythe Inventor in September, 2001, in an controlled environment inCobbitty, New South Wales, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia sinceSeptember, 2001 has shown that the unique features of this new Diasciaare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Codilav have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Codilav’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Codilav’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofDiascia:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Light purple-colored flowers with red purple-colored centers.    -   5. Good temperature tolerance.

Plants of the new Diascia differ from plants of the female parent, thecultivar Codiap, in flower color as plants of the cultivar Codiap havesoft orange-colored flowers. Plants of the new Diascia differ fromplants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of themale parent selection have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Diascia can be compared to plants of the cultivarStrawberry Sundae, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,488. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Cobbitty, New South Wales,Australia, plants of the new Diascia differed from plants of thecultivar Strawberry Sundae in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Diascia were more compact than plants of        the cultivar Strawberry Sundae.    -   2. Plants of the new Diascia had larger flowers than plants of        the cultivar Strawberry Sundae.    -   3. Plants of the new Diascia and the cultivar Strawberry Sundae        differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Strawberry        Sundae had bright pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Diascia.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Codilav’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view oftypical flowers of ‘Codilav’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Encinitas, Calif., in an outdoornursery during the winter and spring with day temperatures averaging 24°C., night temperatures averaging 12° C., and light levels about 6,000foot candles. Plants were grown for about 16 weeks with three plants perone-gallon container; plants were pinched one time.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Diascia×hybrida cultivar Codilav.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Diascia×hybrida cultivar Codiap, disclosed in            U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,169.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Diascia×hybrida selection            identified as X99.54.9, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About one week at            20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and            winter.—About three weeks at 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Upright and compact plant habit. Freely branching with            lateral branches potentially forming at every node.            Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.        -   Plant diameter, single plant.—About 16.5 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Appearance: Thin, wiry; upright. Length:            About 20 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Internode length: About            1.6 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite; simple. Length:            About 2.3 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Deltoid to            slightly cordate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Truncate to            cordate. Margin: Slightly serrate. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: 146A. Developing            foliage, lower surface: 146B. Fully expanded foliage, upper            surface: 147A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B.            Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 147B. Petiole length:            About 3 mm. Petiole diameter: About 2 mm. Petiole color:            144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Solitary zygomorphic flowers arranged            on terminal racemes. Five modified petals fused at base: two            upper (banner) petals, two lateral petals, and one larger            lower lip petal. Flowers not persistent. Flowers face mostly            outwardly.        -   Quantity.—Freely flowering; typically about 18 to 20 buds            and flowers per lateral branch.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants typically flower during the            spring in the Northern Hemisphere; flowering continuous            during this period.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four days.        -   Fragrance.—Not detected.        -   Inflorescence size.—Length: About 6.5 cm. Width: About 4 cm.        -   Flower size.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Depth:            About 1.2 cm.        -   Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter:            About 5 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 75D.        -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five modified petals fused at            base: two upper (banner) petals, two lateral petals, and one            larger lower lip petal. Base of banner petals with concave            yellow eyespots; lower surfaces of lateral petals modified            into nectar spurs; and lower lip petal convex forming a            roughly horizontal insect landing platform. Length: Banner            petals: About 6 mm. Lateral petals: About 7 mm. Lower lip            petal: About 1.2 cm. Width: Banner petals: About 5 mm.            Lateral petals: About 8 mm. Lower lip petal: About 1.4 cm.            Lateral petal spur: Length: About 6 mm. Diameter, at petal            attachment: About 2 mm. Shape, all petals: Roughly            spatulate. Apex, all petals: Rounded. Margin, all petals:            Entire. Texture, all petals, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, velvety. Color, all petals: When opening, upper            surface: 62B. When opening, lower surface: 65D. Fully            opened, upper surface: 75A; towards base, 72D; color            becoming closer to 75B with development. Fully opened, lower            surface: 75C to 75D. Nectar spurs: 77B. Eyespot on banner            petals: 7A.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals            fused at base; star-shaped. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About            2 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: 144A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.75 cm. Width: About 1 mm. Angle:            Upright to about 45° from vertical. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: Less than 1 mm.            Angle: About 45° from the peduncle. Strength: Moderately            strong; slender. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.            Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther            color: 12B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 12A.            Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            4 mm. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: 144D. Stigma            shape: Rounded. Stigma color: 144D. Ovary color: 145A.        -   Fruit/seed.—Fruit and seed production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Diascia have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Diascia.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Diascia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from 0 to 35° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Diascia plant named ‘Codilav’, asillustrated and described.